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    Deal <?php echo $shorterVersion; ?> Home Page
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<h2>Deal <?php echo $shorterVersion;?></h2>
<h3> A bridge hand generator</h3> <h4> by Thomas Andrews</h4>
<h4>Latest version: <?php echo $version; ?></h4>
</center>
Features:
<DL>
<li>Easy to use for quick, simple dealing</li>
<li>Customizable output formats</li>
<li>Infinitely extensible via TCL</li>
<li>Easily portable to most platforms</li>
<li>Free (GNU public license)</li>
</DL> </td>
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?><div style='float:right; margin: 1em;'>
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<div id='versionWarning'></div>
<h2>Information found on these pages:</h2>
<ul>
    <li> <a href="downloading.html">Downloading and Building Instructions</a> </li>
    <li> <span class='alert'>New!</span> <a href="http://andrews-deal.googlecode.com/">Google Code Project</a> - I've placed the Deal source code in a Google Code Project, with complete source control history from version 3.1.1 and later.</li></li>
    <li> <span class="alert">New!</span> <a href="dds.html">Built-in double-dummy solver</a></li>
    <li> <span class="alert">New!</span> <a href="http://dealreleasenews.blogspot.com/">Release announcement blog</a>.  Just subscribe to the feed if you want to received news about new releases.</li>
    <li> <a href="quickdos.html">An Introductory Tutorial for Windows</a></li>
    <li> <a href="quickstart.html">An Introductory Tutorial for Unix</a></li>
    <li> <a href="advanced.html">An Advanced User's Guide</a></li>
    <li> <a href="commands.html">An indexed list of all Deal <?php echo $shorterVersion;?> Commands</a></li>
    <li> <a href="examples.html">Example Scripts</a></li>
    <li> <A href="ext-ref.html">External Resources</a></li>
    <li> <a href="history.html">History</a></li>
</ul>

<h2>Things you can do with <strong>Deal</strong>:</h2>
<ul>
    <li> <strong>Dealing</strong>: Generate random deals for your club.</li>

    <li> <strong>Bidding practice</strong>:  Practice general
    bidding, or specific situations</li>

    <li> <strong>Settle arguments</strong>: Was bidding game wise
    over that limit raise?  Was that spade nine really the best
    lead?</li>

    <li> <strong>Statistical experiments</strong>: How often does
    a bid occur?  How often does this slam make?</li>

    <li> <strong>"Problem solver" contests</strong>: Solve magazine
    problems, and learn where even the experts go wrong</li>

    <li> <strong>Interface with other programs</strong>: Deal <?php
    echo $shorterVersion; ?> comes with the ability to call the GIB
    double dummy solver.</li>
</ul>

<h2>What is Tcl?</h2>

<em>Tcl</em>, pronounced "tickle," stands for "Tool command language."
If you are a Windows user, think of it as the Unix equivalent to
Visual Basic.  But, unlike Visual Basic, Tcl works on almost all
operating systems, not just those made by Bill Gates.
<p>
Tcl is used in a variety of different software, from testing tools
to web software (AOL Server, Vignette) and, of most interest to bridge
players, <a href="http://www.floater.org/">Floater,</a> the free online bridge program.
<p>
The people in charge of Tcl are <a href="http://www.scriptics.com/">
Scriptics.</a>  But don't let their web site fool you - the basic software is free.

<p>
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